The 55th Medical Group (MDG) supports the 55th Wing, USSTRATCOM, 557th Weather Wing and Team Offutt, providing medical and dental services for more than 27,000 enrolled patients with extensive outpatient clinic capabilities and ancillary support. Additionally, the 55 MDG supports more than 45,000 TRICARE beneficiaries in the greater Omaha area.
The 55 MDG is accredited by The Joint Commission, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Commission on Dental Accreditation, and College of American Pathologists.
The Medical Group is comprised of four squadrons:
The 55th Aerospace Medicine Squadron (AMDS) provides, optimizes, and integrates population-based preventive medicine services and guidance to enable peak mission readiness and sustained performance. In addition, it provides safety and operational medicine expertise, including proactive intervention, risk communication, and behavior modification for 47,000 joint beneficiaries. Furthermore, the squadron is the foundation for the medical component of the base’s Personnel Reliability and Assurance Program (PRAP), providing 24/7/365 medical support to personnel in this mission critical status. Finally, the 55th AMDS affords services in Aerospace Physiology, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Flight and Operational Medicine, Health Promotions, Optometry, and Public Health.
The 55th Dental Squadron (DS) provides high-quality comprehensive dental services, assuring the highest state of dental health and readiness for Team Offutt. Services include general dentistry, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics. The squadron also supports an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program, which typically graduates eight military residents annually.
The 55th Medical Operations Squadron (MDOS) provides high-quality primary and specialty healthcare services at Ehrling Bergquist Clinic and four major medical centers in the Omaha community. Services include Family Health, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Women’s Health (OB/GYN), Immunizations, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Podiatry, Audiology, Ear/Nose/Throat, Physical Therapy, and Chiropractic care. The 55th MDOS also hosts the largest military-civilian integrated Family Medicine Residency program in the nation and operates one of the Air Force’s six Interservice Physician Assistant Program training sites through a strong partnership with the University of Nebraska.
The 55th Medical Support Squadron (MDSS) serves as the hub of medical support functions and ancillary health services for the MDG, ensuring a high level of medical readiness and customer services while supporting wartime contingency operations, homeland defense plans, and disaster preparedness. The 55th MDSS supports healthcare delivery by managing a $32 million budget and manpower programs for more than 600 staff members.
Our facility honors the late Col (Dr.) Ehrling L. Bergquist (1905 – 1949).
Col Bergquist earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota, entering active duty July 1, 1929. In 1941 he traveled the U.S. to recruit flying cadets for the Army Air Corps Flying School. In 1942, Captain Bergquist’s innovative thinking and exceptional performance of duty while working with the Army Air Corps Flying School led to his promotion to Colonel. In November 1948, he was assigned as the first Command Surgeon, HQ Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB. During this assignment, he traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe successfully accomplishing special assignments for the Command. He also presented the first plan for Blue Cross Blue Shield military dependent medical coverage, a precursor to today’s TRICARE plan. His career ended when he was fatally injured on final approach to Offutt Field on February 12, 1949 in a B-17 crash.